Upper limits on the extent of seafloor anoxia during the PETM from uranium isotopes

Matthew O. Clarkson (), Timothy M. Lenton, Morten B. Andersen, Marie-Laure Bagard, Alexander J. Dickson and Derek Vance
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Matthew O. Clarkson: ETHZ
Timothy M. Lenton: University of Exeter
Morten B. Andersen: University of Cardiff
Marie-Laure Bagard: The Open University
Alexander J. Dickson: Royal Holloway University of London
Derek Vance: ETHZ

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract The Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) represents a major carbon cycle and climate perturbation that was associated with ocean de-oxygenation, in a qualitatively similar manner to the more extensive Mesozoic Oceanic Anoxic Events. Although indicators of ocean de-oxygenation are common for the PETM, and linked to biotic turnover, the global extent and temporal progression of de-oxygenation is poorly constrained. Here we present carbonate associated uranium isotope data for the PETM. A lack of resolvable perturbation to the U-cycle during the event suggests a limited expansion of seafloor anoxia on a global scale. We use this result, in conjunction with a biogeochemical model, to set an upper limit on the extent of global seafloor de-oxygenation. The model suggests that the new U isotope data, whilst also being consistent with plausible carbon emission scenarios and observations of carbon cycle recovery, permit a maximum ~10-fold expansion of anoxia, covering

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-20486-5

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20486-5

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